Firmino: what my celebration was supposed to mean

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Roberto Firmino says his celebration against Paris Saint-Germain was intended to show there was no need for concern over his fitness.

The Brazilian earned Liverpool a deserved win to start their Champions League campaign when he fired home in the 91st minute after coming on as a second half substitute.

His starting spot on the bench came as a precaution following the eye abrasion he suffered during a gruesome tangle with Jan Vertonghen in Saturday’s win over Tottenham.

Let’s be honest, there was only one way he could celebrate such a dramatic winning goal – cover the eye with one hand.

Reflecting on the moment, Firmino told Esporte Interativo: ““It was an inexplicable pain, I’m way better now and ready to play, like you have seen! The celebration was to show I’m back to 100%.”

Roberto Firmino – image by Liverpoolfc.com

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It marked the perfect remedy to what was threatening to become a frustrating draw in a game Liverpool dominated throughout.

The Reds had looked set to start the group stages with merely a point when Kylian Mbappe finished off a counterattack to make it 2-2 in the 83rd minute.

Step up Firmino, who produced a moment of individual spark to shift the ball onto his right foot inside PSG’s penalty area before finding Alphonse Areola’s far corner.

His effort built on an outstanding individual display at Wembley at the weekend in marking his gradual return to top form following a relatively slow start to the season by his standards.

Between Daniel Sturridge doing an admirable job in place of Firmino and the no.9 himself making such a defining impact off the bench, another special European night at Anfield epitomised the team spirit flowing through Liverpool at the moment.

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